House Dem: Sorry, We Liberals Won't Be Unifying Behind Public ...
So Roll Call is now reporting that some House liberals are already saying — in advance — that they may be prepared to accept a so-called “trigger” for a public option, rather than insisting on the public plan without one.
If you want to understand why House progressives don’t get anywhere near the love and attention that Blue Dog Dems do, and why Dem leaders expect liberals to cave again and again, look no further than this quote buried in the Roll Call piece:
“We’re the caucus that least marches to a unified drummer — that’s not what we do,” Rep. Mike Capuano said. “I’m serious about increasing access and quality, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a grand slam home run. I’ll take a ground-rule double if that’s what it takes. I’m happy to compromise if that’s what it takes. But compromise is compromise — it’s not rolling over.”
I read and linked to the “Roll Call” in the previous thread. I find it interesting that there isn’t even a bill with a “trigger” in it yet and they’re already compromising on it.I’ve been trying to find specifics about the bill Baucus is apparently drafting and all I can find so far are generalities but it seems to include co-ops still. Have you found anything else?
I mentioned last week that it looks like Snowe will be drafting our HCR bill. Weird.
I’m wondering what Jane Hamsher will think of all the money raised and promises received from House Progressives if they go down the “trigger” route. I know I’m not impressed with the idea.
Let’s see the nature of the trigger before we attack. I can think of a number of trigger mechanisms that would be better than the current public option proposal. Let’s try a 3 year window on the trigger, insurance premium reductions down by 10% in that time and if it doesn’t happen a public option that starts that day (and not 5 years from now like the current plan).
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